Evaluation of an Improved Convective Triggering Function: Observational Evidence and SCM Tests

Abstract

This study provides a strong observational support for a recently developed convective triggering function that uses the large-scale dynamic convective available potential energy (dCAPE) as a constraint combined with an unrestricted air parcel launch level (ULL) to relax the unrealistic strong coupling of convection to surface heating and capture nocturnal elevated convection. Both case study and statistical analysis are conducted using the observations collected from the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program at its Southern Great Plains and Manaus (MAO) sites. They show that dCAPE has a much stronger correlation with precipitation than convective available potential energy, and ULL is essential to detect elevated convection above boundary layer under both midlatitude and tropical conditions and for both afternoon and nighttime deep convection regimes. Sensitivity tests with the single-column model (SCM) of the Department of Energy's Energy Exascale Earth System Model indicate that the role of dCAPE in suppressing daytime convection is more effective for tropical convection than midlatitude convection. Even though the dCAPE can suppress the overestimated convection, ULL plays a much bigger role in improving the diurnal cycle of precipitation than dCAPE. It not only helps capture nocturnal elevated convection but also significantly removes the spurious morning precipitation seen in the default model, due to the release of unstable energy at night. However, the use of ULL has led to an overestimation of light-to-moderate precipitation (1–10 mm/day) due to more convection being triggered above boundary layer.